SEDEVERIA x ECHEVERIA HYBRID PLANT NAMED &#39;LILAC MIST&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Sedeveria  cultivar named ‘Lilac Mist’ is disclosed, characterized by a compact and chunky morphology which can fill a 9 cm pot with a single vegetative cutting. Grey-green foliage with distinctive violet blush. Suitability for combining with other ornamental plants. The new variety would typically be useful as container a plant or as landscape plants.

Latin name of the genus and species: Sedeveria×Echeveria hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘LILAC MIST’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar, Sedeveria ‘Lilac Mist’, is the product of a plannedbreeding program. The new variety originated from a cross pollination ofthe proprietary, unpatented, seed parent, Sedeveria ‘Sed 09’ with thepollen parent, an unpatented, proprietary variety of Echeveria referredto as ‘Lei 12.’ The cross pollination was made during February 2012 inVista, Calif., at a commercial greenhouse. The new cultivar ‘Lilac Mist’was discovered by the inventor, Renee O'Connell, in September 2013, inVista, Calif., at a commercial greenhouse.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘Lilac Mist’ was firstperformed in Vista, Calif., at a commercial greenhouse, by terminalvegetative cuttings in Fall of 2013. Sedeveria ‘Lilac Mist’ has sinceproduced multiple generations and has shown that the unique features ofthis cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘Lilac Mist’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘LILAC MIST’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘LILAC MIST’ as a new and distinctSedeveria×Echeveria cultivar:

-   -   1. ‘Lilac Mist’ exhibits a compact and chunky morphology that        can fill 9 cm pot with single cutting.    -   2. ‘Lilac Mist’ has silver blue leaves, overlaid with a pink to        violet blush, particularly in bright light.    -   3 ‘Lilac Mist’ is extremely prolific when produced by leaf        culture, or “leaflings”, enhancing production quantities at a        faster rate.    -   4. ‘Lilac Mist’, because of its subtle, attractive coloration        and interesting morphology is a perfect accent for succulent        groupings or dish gardens

PARENTAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘Lilac Mist’ are similar to the seed parentin most horticultural characteristics. However, plants of the newcultivar ‘Lilac Mist’ differ in the following:

-   -   1. ‘Lilac Mist’ blushes rose to violet on apical portions of        leaves, whereas ‘Sed ‘09’ does not.    -   2. ‘Lilac Mist’ produces stems that have a greater diameter than        those of ‘Sed 09’.    -   3. ‘Lilac Mist’ has partially flat leaves, whereas ‘Sed 09’ has        rounded leaves.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘Lilac Mist’ are similar to the pollenparent, in most horticultural characteristics. However, the new cultivar‘Lilac Mist’ differs the following:

-   -   1. ‘Lilac Mist’ has a more upright morphology than does        Echeveria ‘Lei 12’.    -   2. ‘Lilac Mist’ blushes rose to violet on the apical tips of the        leaves, whereas ‘Lei 12’ does not.    -   3. Echeveria ‘Lei 12’ produces leaves with round apices, whereas        ‘Lilac Mist’ produces leaves with sharply pointed apices.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

The new cultivar ‘Lilac Mist’ can be compared to the unpatentedcommercial variety Sedum ‘Burrito’. Plants of the new variety can becommercially compared to this Sedum, as they are similar in somehorticultural characteristics. However, the new cultivar ‘Lilac Mist’differs in the following:

-   -   1. ‘Lilac Mist’ expresses a rose to violet blush on the apical        tips of the leaves, whereas Sedum ‘Burrito’ does not.    -   2. ‘Lilac Mist’ grows with a more upright morphology, whereas        Sedum ‘Burrito’ forms stems that are more pendulous.    -   3. ‘Lilac Mist’ produces much thicker stems than does Sedum        ‘Burrito’.    -   4. The leaves of Sedum ‘Burrito’ are easily detached from the        stem, whereas the leaves of ‘Lilac Mist’ are not easily detached        from the stem.    -   5. The overall color of the foliage of Sedum ‘Burrito’ is pale        blue-green, whereas the foliage of ‘Lilac Mist’ is silver-blue,        with violet overtones.

The new cultivar ‘Lilac Mist’ can be compared to the unpatentedcommercial variety Sedeveria×Echveria ‘Harry Butterfield’. Plants ofthis comparator are similar to plants of the new cultivar ‘Lilac Mist’in most horticultural characteristics. However, the new cultivar ‘LilacMist’ differs in the following:

-   -   1. ‘Lilac Mist’ produces much thicker stems than ‘Harry        Butterfield’.    -   2. ‘Lilac Mist’ expresses a rose to violet blush on the apical        tips of the leaves, whereas ‘Harry Butterfield’ does not.    -   3. ‘Lilac Mist’ grows with a more upright morphology, whereas        ‘Harry Butterfield’ forms stems that are more pendulous.    -   4. The overall color of the foliage of ‘Harry Butterfield’ is        blue-green, whereas the foliage of ‘Lilac Mist’ is silver-blue,        with violet overtones.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 illustrate in fullcolor typical plants of ‘LILAC MIST’ grown in a greenhouse in Vista,Calif. The photographs were taken using conventional techniques andequipment. While the colors in these photographs may display variancesof color as compared to the living cultivar, due to LRV (lightreflectance value), they are as accurate as possible using conventionalphotographic techniques. Colors in the photographs may appear to differslightly from the color values cited in the botanical description, whichaccurately describe the colors of the new Sedeveria×Echveria plant. Thefollowing photographs depict plants grown under natural light conditionsof 2500-4000 foot-candles. Temperatures ranged from 34° F. to 90° F.night and day. No artificial light, photoperiodic treatments or chemicaltreatments were given to the plants. Plants are approximately 6 monthsold from a vegetative cutting.

FIG. 1 illustrates in full color a typical of plant of ‘Lilac Mist’ witha single rosette.

FIG. 2 illustrates in full color of plant of ‘Lilac Mist’ with asecondary rosette forming.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007, except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘Lilac Mist’ plants in a commercial greenhousein Vista, Calif. Temperatures ranged from 34° F. to 90° F. night andday. No artificial light, photoperiodic treatments or chemicaltreatments were given to the plants. Natural light conditions wereapproximately 2500-4000 foot candles of light. Measurements andnumerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Sedeveria×Echeveria hybrid ‘LILAC MIST’-   Propagation:    -   -   Type of propagation typically used.—Terminal vegetative            cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots.—About 14 days at approximately 24°            C.        -   Root description.—Fibrous.-   Plant:    -   -   Age of plant described.—Approximately 4 months.        -   Container size of the plant described.—9 cm.        -   Growth habit.—Densely rosette plant.        -   Height.—Approximately 10.5 cm to top of highest leaf.        -   Plant spread.—Approximately 11 cm.        -   Growth rate.—Rapid.        -   Branching characteristics.—No branches, offsets occurring            frequently after 3 months.        -   Center stem.—Approximately 1.8 cm in diameter and 6 cm high.            Colored near Greyed-Green 193D. Glabrous.-   Foliage:    -   -   Leaf.—Arrangement: Rosulate. Very evenly and densely            arranged. Average length: Average range 3.0 cm to 5.0 cm            Average width: 1.6 cm Average depth: 7 mm Widest width:            Approximately 12 cm. Width at base: 1.1 cm. Shape of blade:            Obovate Apex: Cuspidate to near apiculate. Pointed structure            at apex appears sharp, but, is fleshy and not sharp to the            touch. Base: Truncate. Margin: Entire. Texture of top            surface: Slightly glaucous. Texture of bottom surface:            Slightly glaucous. Appearance of top surface: Matte.            Appearance of top surface: Matte. Quantity of leaves per            plant: Approximately 50 to 70 on a plant this age.        -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near RHS Greyed-Green 193A,            center 194C Young foliage under side: Near RHS Greyed-Green            193A, center 194C. Faintly flushed a color between            Greyed-Purple N187C and 186C along upper 1/3. Mature foliage            upper side: Near RHS Greyed-Green 192D, flushed over entire            surface with Greyed-Purple N187C. Margins flushed 187C and            186D. Apex 193A. Base near Greyed-Green 193D, center 194C.            Mature foliage under side: Near RHS Greyed-Green 192D,            flushed over entire surface with Greyed-Purple N187C. Upper            1/3 flushed 187C and 186D. Apex 193A. Base near Greyed-Green            193D, center 194C. Venation: There is no visual appearance            of venation.-   Flower: Not observed to date.-   Reproductive organs: Not observed to date.-   Other characteristics:    -   -   Fruits and seeds.—Not observed to date.        -   Temperature tolerance.—Tolerates temperatures from            approximately −2° C. to at least 35° C.        -   Disease/pest resistance.—Neither resistance or            susceptibility to normal diseases and pests of Sedeveria or            Echeveria has been observed.        -   Drought tolerance.—Tolerates at least 3 weeks of high            temperatures without supplemental water, showing no serious            damage to plant.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar ofSedeveria×Echeveria plant named ‘LILAC MIST’ as herein illustrated anddescribed.